Failed to Train the Beast Male Lead

Norman was sitting in the Duke’s room, completely clueless as to why he was summoned.

The Duke briefly pondered. While it would be ideal to resolve this himself, the Duke found the information available to him too limited.

The quickest way may have been to ask Mrs. Wells, but the Duke knew well that the moment he inquired, his feelings would be exposed.

Hence, he had called for Norman.

Norman’s slight lack of tact made him perfect for discreetly asking about something.

“Cough. Has anything of note been happening in the Duke’s Mansion lately?”

“Something happening?”

Completely oblivious to the Duke’s view of his tactlessness, Norman asked back puzzled.

“Yes. Since there have been many matters recently, it’s not strange for me to occasionally ask first.”

“You’re right, Your Grace.”

Norman readily agreed with the Duke’s words.

“So?”

Prompted by the Duke’s tone, Norman began racking his brain.

The elders had yet to seriously consider his tourism proposal.

Was there some other matter he didn’t know about? No, the Duke’s residence had been quite peaceful recently.

“It doesn’t seem like anything in particular?”

“Not even among the servants?”

“No. Ah!”

“What is it?”

“It’s not a big deal, but Carol does seem quite troubled lately.”

Finally, the topic the Duke had aimed for. To avoid appearing too eager, he casually probed further.

“Did you happen to hear what she’s troubled about?”

Recently, the Duke’s own concern had arisen – Carol’s distant behavior since their Garden House visit.

‘Up until then, things seemed fine.’

He had felt she was becoming conscious of him positively.

The Duke was perceptive. Precisely because her change was what he hoped for, he was keenly aware.

That Carol was conscious of him felt miraculous.

Though she seemed to lack self-confidence in her appearance, he was certain his feelings would not change even if his sight returned.

His feelings for Carol were like northern snow – not melting completely even as temperatures rose, placid but sweeping in like storms to shake him.

Unlike the scandalous rumors, the Duke had never seriously courted anyone before.

He was aware of his ineptitude. Opportunities were infrequent, and desperation prevented acting solely on feelings.

So he dared nurture the careful, slow idea of trying to win her heart.

But the problem came after.

At some point, Carol seemed to lose all interest in him.

Had he erred? It didn’t seem so – he would have noticed.

The concern Norman mentioned had a high probability of being the issue.

“Ah, Noah’s birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

“!”

The Duke recalled Noah shyly mentioning his upcoming birthday recently.

Nobles typically held grand celebration banquets. But the Duke’s Mansion had never done so, never even celebrated a birthday.

While other households sent gifts, they held no meaning for the Duke.

“He seems troubled about never properly being celebrated before.”

However, Noah still anticipated his birthday.

As an unofficially acknowledged person, no banquet would be held for Noah, nor gifts arrive.

“Oh dear.”

It meant the only people who could prepare anything were those close to Noah, the Duke finally realized.

“…What do children like?”

The Duke belatedly wiped his troubled expression.

It was an issue he too had to consider.

“I’ve decided to make him a three-tier cake. He said he’s never had his own cake before.”

Norman proudly shared his plan to make a three-tier cake for the first time, admitting he was nervous.

Just as the Duke realized belatedly that he needed to give a gift, feeling vexed, Norman added that Mrs. Wells planned to gift Noah a blanket made of soft yarn he liked the feel of.

“I see.”

“I wonder what Carol will give him.”

Norman’s innocent remark only increased the Duke’s sense of burden.

As Norman seemed to want to say more, the Duke had to dismiss him.

“You can go now.”

“Yes. If there’s anything else you wanted to ask…”

“No need, you can go.”

Norman looked puzzled, completely missing why he had been summoned. But he soon stated solemnly:

“Very well. I’ll inform you right away if anything comes up.”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Norman bowed respectfully and exited. The Duke, who had been on the sofa, moved to the window seat.

Despite the window being closed, he could feel the outside chill. After the founding anniversary, the snowiest period would arrive.

“Phew…”

With one more concern added, the Duke let out a shallow sigh and cracked the window open slightly.

The scent of night wafted in.

Soon, it would be time for her to arrive.

****

Noah always wanted to attend Carol and the Duke’s lessons, but to Noah’s dismay, aside from the few times Mrs. Wells permitted, he was routinely pulled away by Mary who said young children needed early bedtimes.

However, there was a way for him to see Carol early before she entered the Duke’s room upon arrival.

When Carol arrived at the Duke’s Mansion and stopped by the servants’ lounge, the waiting Noah would come running in.

“Carol’s here?”

“What are you doing here? It’s not a day you join the Duke’s lesson.”

Carol patted Noah’s back as he hugged her, checking the date.

“Yeah. I was just waiting to say hi before going back, sipping some warm milk.”

“I see.”

Though he grumbled about having less freedom, Noah’s complexion seemed much brighter than before.

Noah briefly went to peer towards the door.

“And about that gift I asked if I could have last time.”

Previously, Carol had outright asked Noah if, rather than a surprise gift, there was something practical he needed, since he lacked many essentials.

“Have you decided what you want?”

At Carol’s words, Noah’s eyes lit up as he vigorously nodded.

As Noah whispered in Carol’s ear, her eyes widened more and more.

“Okay. I’ll make sure to discuss what you want with the Duke.”

At Carol’s enthusiastic remark, Noah quickly held her back.

“…No. If the Duke doesn’t like it…you don’t have to.”

“No, I will.”

She thought this could provide an opportunity for the two to kiss sooner than expected.

Carol strode down the now-familiar corridor with a determined face.

And soon, the routine differing little from any other day began again.

“Good evening.”

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

While it seemed like any other ordinary day, a peculiar tension lingered between them.

Carol was watching for an opportunity to ask the Duke about Noah’s request to her earlier.

“It’s cold out, so dress warmly.”

“Of course. May I sit by the fireplace today?”

“Please do.”

However, the Duke also had something he wanted to ask her.

The two sat side by side before the fireplace, having a light meal, tea, and discussing books.

The Duke prodded the fireplace interior with the poker. Embers flared up, reviving the dwindling fire’s warmth.

He could now behave naturally even around the fireplace.

Carol shifted her gaze to the Duke’s silver fur, taking on a warm hue in the firelight.

‘…I want to stroke it.’

Recognizing the thought, Carol bit her lower lip. Then she remembered there was still something she needed to say. She gently pressed her chest, trying to calm herself.

“Umm…”

“Teacher.”

Just as she opened her mouth, the Duke happened to call out to her too.

Their simultaneous words hung in the air. Both withdrew before finishing.

“Please, you first.”

Carol yielded first. The Duke was about to defer as well, but realized they would just keep deferring, so he spoke up.

“It’s about Noah.”

“Yes.”

As much as he disliked appearing awkward, as Norman said, Carol was likely the one who knew best what Noah wanted.

“Have you already decided what gift you’ll give him?”

At the Duke’s question, Carol’s eyes widened.

Why was everything going so smoothly? The situation was unfolding so well, it was puzzling.

A brief unease passed, but soon she realized there was no need for difficulty.

“…Actually, this is something I wanted to ask you about as well.”

“The gift matter?”

“I asked Noah what he wanted.”

“And?”

“Noah said he wants to have a small party together at the Garden House.”

Upon learning they had gone to the Garden House alone, Noah had felt quite regretful.